Guiyang Free Trade Zone deepens its opening-up

Since the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, Guiyang Free Trade Zone (Guiyang FTZ) has seized opportunities to support the Belt and Road Initiative, achieving rail-sea intermodal transportation to major ports in 144 countries and regions worldwide, forming a new pattern of opening-up.

"Five years ago, shipping goods overseas was our biggest challenge. Now, in Guiyang FTZ, all procedures can be completed in just a few hours," said Wu Longhua, a representative of Guizhou Wanhui International Trade Co. What delights him more is that the company's products can now achieve convenient direct transfers within the zone and take the Guizhou International Freight Distribution Center special line, reducing logistics costs by up to 10 percent.

Guizhou-manufactured new energy buses ship out from the Guiyang International Land Port. [Photo/WeChat account of Guiyang Foreign Affairs Office]

The zone has operated a total of 670 trains, including 75 China-Europe Railway Express trains, 386 Guizhou-Guangdong freight trains, and 205 New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor trains.

As for road transportation, the Guizhou-Hong Kong Direct Express now achieves a direct connection to Hong Kong in 16 hours, with more than 1,000 trips operated cumulatively, and the cross-border highway truck express has reached Southeast Asian countries.

Breakthroughs have also been made in air logistics, with imported fruit charter flights now operating at a normal level.

Wang Yuezhong, a representative of Guiyang FTZ Bonded Business and Port Service Center, said that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the zone established cooperation with more than 30 countries and regions. It also strengthened domestic collaboration with key regions, including Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Yangtze River Delta, promoting coordinated development with Guiyang's districts and counties and contributing to the city's high-level opening-up.